Flint Police Department to Hire Six Officers With New $1.1 Million Grant

Flint may have just became safer after the news of six new officers being hired by the Flint Police Department due to a new $1.1 million grant. The officers will be assigned to six schools which is greatly appreciated.

Current Police Chief Alvern Lock announced the new grant and his resignation last week. The funds are coming from the U.S. Department of Justice to help assist school with safety which is apart of their Community Oriented Police Service hiring program.

According to MLive, the grants will fund partial salaries for entry level officers and the City of Flint are on the hook for the rest of the funds.

The grants provide up to 75 percent of the approved entry-level salaries and benefits for three years, according to the USDOJ. The local department is responsible for 25 percent of the cost. At the end of the three years, the department is required to keep the sworn officers for at least one more year.

The six officers are in addition to some upcoming new hires from the tax mileage approved by voters. I am excited to hear more police officers are going to get hired to help curb the violence in our city. I hope we will see an immediate change once the officers are hired.

Do you think the additional officers will make a difference in the City of Flint? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.